Typewriting machine



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Jan. 1, 1924 1,479,703

B. J. DOWD TYPEWRITING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet B fiver; @r 0 BernarJJhwJ L g m Ami-"1 8 Patented Jan. I, 1924.

uurrso STATES PATENT OFFICE.

3mm J. DOWD, OI HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ABSIGNOB T0 ROYAL mamas 001mm, me, O! new YORK, I. Y., A CORPORATION O1 YORK- TYPIWBITHG momma.

Application fled Jan na! 11, lerlll Io. 018,111.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnnmmn J. Down, a citizen of the United States residing in Hartford, in the county of flartford and 6 State of Connecticut, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Typewrlting Machines, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to t pewriting ma- 1o chines in which the glaten is shifted from one osition to anot er for ease printing. In t e Royal standard machine the laten is supported on a carriage which is ifted vertically for this purpose. One or more shift is keysare connected with the carriage by mechanism which normally holds the carria' in lower position; but which when a shi key is depressed causes the carriage and its platen to be raised to u per case posi- 20 tion. In the Royal machine a so mechanism is provided operated by a shift key for lockin the platen in upper case position until are eased, when the carriage lowers by gravity to lower position. In the Royal machine in order to counterbalance the weight of the carriage so that the load on the shift l e may be reduced, a sprin isconnected wit the shift mechanism an is put under such tension as to tend to raise the carriage and 30 to thus assist in the shifting operation. Such mechanism has been found to operate eificiently, but I have found that the action ma be so refined as to provide a cushion for the shift ke after the carriage ha been raised to its full extent and at the same time proyide means for imparting an initial impulse to the return movement of the carriage. have also found that the return movement 0 of Itllie carriage mgy betfirther by em 0 asuppemsn sprmgwc 1s normallg inactive but which is put under tension when the carriage has near y reached the limit of its upward movement.

In carrying out my invention in the referred way, 111 improvements are app ied to. a machine 0 the Royal type having the shift mechanism above mom i but the connection between. the counts cing spring and the shift mechanism i such that when the carriage hasbeen raised to its full extent and after the spring has been relaxed said spring is a automatically placed under tens on an thus clouds a cushion for the shift key and means for giving an initial impulse to the return movement of the carrialge. n the accompan drawings R0F re 1 is a simlevlliltion of parts ofha ya t writi mac ine s owing t e usual shi mech siiism modified to include my improvements. In Figure 1 the parts are in the normal lower case position.

Figure 2 is 'a view of parts of the shift mechanism as theglappear when the carriage is raised to its ll extent for upper case printing.

Figure 3 is a view of the same mechanism showing how the depression of a shift key is cushioned after the carriage has been raised and how the counterbalancing spring is put under tension for the purposes above mentioned.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views of the counterbalancing spring. a

Figure 4 illustrates the normal condition of the spring when it is placed under tension and tends to raise the carriage.

Figure 5 illustrates the condition of the sp when the carriage has been raised to its fu extent and the tension of the spring is fully relaxed.

Figure 6' illustrates the condition of the spring after the carriage has been raised to its ful extent and the shift key is further depressed, thus placing the spring under tension, though not as great as the normal tension of the spring in the lower position of the carriage. Y

Fi re is a detail view in section on the line --7 of F Figure 8 is a detail view'of the cushion setting member forming part of the connection between a shift key and the mechanism for raising the carriage.

Figure 9 is a detail view showing a modified cm of cushion setting device and a modified way of connecting said device with the carr' raisi mechanism.

I have own in i 1 only such parts ofatypewriting'm oftheRoyaltype as is necemary to illustrate how in improvements may be apxl'ed- The e frame is indicated at the carriage at B and the platen at C. e carriage is supported shift rail D which has downwardly connected on extending legs E their lower ends with links F and connected near their upper ends with rocker arms H on a rock shaft is.

The upwardly extendin arm k of the shift key K is connected y an adjustable link L with another link M in turn connected at its rear end with one of the rocker arms H in the manner hereinafter described. The arm in is also connected by a link N with a latch 0 adapted to engage a bracket P on one of the legs E and to hold the carriage in lower sition. When the shift key is dethe latch is first withdrawn and then the rocker arms H are so moved as. to raise the carria It will be observed that there is a certain lost motion at m between the link M and its connection with the rocker arms permitting the latch to be withdrawnbefore the shift key is fully operated to raise the carri In order to hbi i the carriage in upper case ition I preferably employ the usual dog which is normally inactive but which engages the bracket P and holds the earrings in raised position when the shift lock key R is operated. The shift lock mechanism indicated at S is of the usual kind and operates in the usual way.

As in the Royal machine, the weight of the carriage is partiall counterbalanced by a spring T connecte with the machine frame and with the shift mechanism. This spring is normally under tension and tends to lift the carriage but is not sufficiently stron to do so. It, nevertheless, facilitates the ifting operation of the shift keys. When the carriage is raised to its full extent. the tension of the spring is fully relaxed and when the shift key is released, the carriage returns solely b gravity. I have now provided means w ereby the spring serves not only to counterbalance or aid in lifting the carriage, but also facilitates its return by giving an initial impulse to the return movement. I do this by means of devices which put the spring under tension immediately after the carriage is raised to its full extent, such tension serving to give an initial impulse to the return movement of the carriage. These devices also provide a cushion for the shift keys inasmuch as after the carriage has been raised to its full extent by the depression of a key, the further movement of the key which puts the spring under tension is cushioned during such operation.

The spring T is connected at one end to a toothed ate U pivoted at u to the machine frame and adjusted by means of the screw U. These devices are well known features of the Royal machine. The opposite end of the spring T is connected with a cushion setting member V, in this instance consisting of a lever pivoted at o to the lower end of a rocker arm H and having a downwardly .lower end with an elongate extending arm '0' ivotally connected at m to the link M. e spring T is connected with the member V at o and this member has an upwardly and forwardly extending arm o carryin a in 12 working in an inclined slot ii. in t e rocker arm H. The member V has an arm 0 connected by a spring 0' with the latch O, the construction being such that the latch is held in secure engagement with the bracket P by said spring and also by the spring T throu'gh t e member V.

The upward movement of the carriage is limited by one or more stops W mounted on the machine frame and engaging one or more brackets W on the carriage shift mechanism, and the downward movement of the carriage may be limited by one or more stops Y suitably placed.

In Fi re 9 I have shown a modified form of cushion setting device. In this case the spring T engages an upwardly extendin arm of the member and the upper rear end of this arm is formed with a hook engaging the rocker arm H. The operation is substantiall the same.

In or er to further assist in the return movement of the carria I emplo} one or more springs X which is connected to the carriage shift mechanism and extends downwardly therefrom, being rovided at its loop a: enclosing an adjustable eccentric m secured to the machine frame. Normally the loop does not engage the eccentric but when the carriage is raised the lower end of the loop comes in contact with the eccentric and durin the last part of the upward movement 0 the carriage the spring is ut under tension so that when the shift is released, the spring X serves to assist in the return movement, which return movement is also assisted by the spring T as before explained.

When the mechanism is in the condition shown in Figure L and a shift key is depressed, the latch O is first withdrawn and then by the further downward movement of the shift key, the carriage is raised to its full extent against the stop W. During this upward movement of the carriage, the tension of the spring T is fully relaxed and the mechanism is in the condition illustrated in Figure 2. During this part of the operation the pin '0 maintains its position in the slot it. As the shift ke is further depressed, the in 'uv moves ownwardly and rearwar y in the slot It causing the member V to turn on its pivot 'v and thus put the spring T under tension. While this is being done, the shiftkey is efiiciently cushioned and at the same time a force is stored which assists in the return movement of the carriage because as soon as the shift key is released, the spring T now under tension imparts an initial impulse to the carriage and this form together with that of gravity enables the carria'ge to quickly return to normal sition. Furthermore, during the 0 ratlon the spring X is put under tension and also assists in the return movement.

When it is desired to lock the carriage in upper case position, the shift lock mecha msm R, S, and Q, is operated in the usual wag.

eans for cushlonin the shift keys have heretofore been used. evices for this purpose are shown in patents :-1,226,'Z70; 1,- 227,438 and 1,244,729 issued to Royal Type-i writer Company, Inc., but these devices involve yielding means in the connections between the shift keys and the carriage liftin mechanism, whereas my im rovements involve the use of the counterba ancin spring for this purpose, which has the a vantage of applying the cushioning efl'ect and the carriage return power directly to the shift mechanism.

It will be observed that the sprin T is normally under tension, that when t e carriage is raised to its full extent the s ring tension is relaxed, and that as the shi t key is further depressed the spring is again put under tension. When the shift key is released thefspring T is again relaxed and immediately afterwards put under tension as the carriage assumes its normal position.

While the drawings show only one shift key, it will be understood that two shift keys may be employed as in the usual Royal construction.

By my improvements I am able to -ve an increased tension to the counterba ancing sprin inasmuch as after the carriage is raise to its full extent, the spring is put under tension which assists in the return movement of the carriage. I am thus able to obtain a livelier and' more responsive return of the carriage with an eight ounce key depression than has been heretofore possible in a key action having eleven ounce weight action.

It will be observed that the spring X becomes active during the time that the spring T is inactive or relaxed and thusserves most efliciently to assist in the return movement of the carriage before the spring T again becomes active or tends to impede the return movement.

It will be understood that while the invention has been illustrated as applied to a machine in which the entire carriage is raised and lowered for case printing, .and.

in which the carriage therefore constitutes the shiftable element, it is also applicable to machines in which only a portion of the carriage or a platen supporting frame, or a type bar segment, constitutes the shiftable element.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a typewriting machine, a member shiftable for case printing, means for shifting said member, a spring for partially counterbalancing the weight of said member, and means acting when said member is shifted to tension said spring to give an initial impulse to the return movement of the carriage.

2. In a typewriting machine, a platen, printing mechanism, means for effecting a relative ease shift movement between the platen and the printing mechanism, a counterbalancing spring for assisting said shift movement, and means acting when said shift movement is efiected to tension said spring to give .an initial impulse to the return movement of the shifted element. I

3. In a typewriting machine, a shiftabl element, means for shlftin the same for case printing, a counterbalancing spring for asexistingI the shifting movement, and means where y the s rin' is tensioned after the completion of t e s ifting movement to give an initial im ulse to the return movement of the shifted e ement.

4. In a typewriting machine, a shiftable platen, key operated means for shifting the same, a counterbalancing spring for assisting the shifting movement and which reaches relaxed condition at the end of said movement, and means whereby the sprin is again tensioned after the completion 0 the shifting movement to cushion the key and to give an initial impulse to the return movement of the platen.

5. In a typewriti machine, a platen, key operated means for ifting the same, 0. etc for limiting the shifting movement thereo a counterbalancing sprin which assists said movement and reaches re axed position when the movement is limited by said stop, and means whereby the spring is again tensioned after the completion of the shifting movement to give an initial impulse to the return movement of the platen.

6. In a typewriting machine, a laten, a key operated means for shifting t e same, a counterbalancin spring for assisting said movement and w ic reaches relaxed position at the end of the movement, means whereby the spring is again tensioned after the com letion of said movement and a second spring which is tensioned only during the latter part of the shift movement, said springs operating to give an initial return impu se to the platen after the release of the key;

7 In a ty writing machine, a carriage, key operate means for shifting the same, a counterbalancing spring for assisting said movement, and means interposed between the spring and the shiftin means to tension the same after the shi in movement of the carriage is completed, an to cushion the key.

8. In a typewriting machine, a carriage,

key operated means for shifting the same, a spring for partially counterba ancing the weight of the carria and a cushion setti member interposed tween the spring an the shifting means and which is moved after the carria has completed its shifting movement, t ereby tensioning the spring and causing the same to give an initial impulse to the return movement of the carriage.

9. In a typewritin machine, a carriage, a shiftable support therefor, a cushion setting member pivotally mounted on said support, a counterbalancing sprin one end of which is connected to sai cus ion set ti member, and means for operat' said cu ion settin member to first shi the carriage and t ereafter again tension said spring to cause it to give an initial impulse to the return movement of the carriage.

10. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, a shiftable support therefor, a cushion setting member pivotally mounted on said support, means for limiting the independent movement of said cushion settin member, a counterbalancing spring one en of which is connected to the cushion setting member, a shift ke means connecting the shift key to the cushion setting member whereby the depression of the key first moves the carria through-the cushion setting member an afterwards moves the cushion setting member independently of the support causing the spring to tension and cushion the 11. In a typewriting machine, carri shift mechanism, means for operat' e sam a spring for partially counterb ancing t e wei ht of the carriage, and a cushion setting mem r which is pivotally connected to the carriage shift mechanism, is connected to the counterbalance spring, and has an arm havi a lost motion connection with the carriage ift mechanism to permit the spring to cushion the movement of said operati means. v

12. a t writing mach ne, the combination with t e platen carriage of rocker arms for lift the carriage, a cushion setting member plvotally connected with one of said arms and havi a part with a shifting connection with said arm, a counterbalancing spring connected with said cushion settlng between the shift key and said cushion setting member.

13. In a t writing machine, a carriage, shift mechanism therefor, a counterbalancing springl which relaxes as the carriage reaches fu y shifted position, and another spring directl connected with the carria for assisting t e return movement which 1s normally inactive but becomes active as the counterbalancing spring moves to relaxed position.

14. In a ty writing machine, the combination of a p aten carriage, liftin devices therefor, a latch for normally ho ding the carriage in lowered position, a counterbalancing spring for the carriage, a cushion setting evice to which the counterbalancing spring is connected, and a yielding connection between the cushion setting device and the latch.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, shifting mechanism therefor, a counterbalancing spri a cushion setting device carried by the iftin mechanism and connected to the counterba ancing spring to tension said spring after the com letion of the shifting movement, a latch or holding the platen in low- 'ened position, and a connection between the hatch and the cushion setti device.

16. In a typewriting mac ine, case shift mechanism, means for operating the same,

a key for actuating said means, and a sp which assists the shifting operation an passes from an extended to relaxed position upon the case shift movement, and means to then extend the spring upon a complete depression of the y. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

BERNARD J. DOWD.

member, a shift key and connections 

